Cell thawing machine and method for operating same

Abstract

A cell thawing machine is provided. The cell thawing machine comprises: a thawing unit that includes heating blocks including a first heating block and a second heating block forming a heating space for heating a container in which a predetermined amount of biological material including cells is stored, heaters installed in the heating blocks to provide heat to the heating blocks, and insulation blocks coupled to the heating blocks so as to surround the heaters; a driving unit that provides driving force for raising and lowering support pins so that the pins can support a lower portion of the container, and moving the first heating block and the second heating block in a straight line to the left and right; and a control unit that controls the thawing unit and the driving unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cell thawing machine, comprising:
 a thawing part comprising heating blocks, wherein the heating blocks comprise a first heating block and a second heating block forming a heating space for heating a container in which a predetermined amount of biological material comprising cells is stored, heaters are installed in the heating blocks to provide heat to the heating blocks, and heat insulating blocks are coupled to the heating blocks so as to surround the heaters;   a driving part for providing a driving force for raising and lowering support pins such that the support pins can support a lower portion of the container, and linearly moving the first heating block and the second heating block to the left and right directions; and   a control part for controlling the thawing part and the driving part.   
     
     
         2 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the container disposed in the heating space is heated by heat transferred from the heating blocks in a non-contact manner in a state where a lower portion of the container is supported through the support pins and the container is not in contact with the heating blocks. 
     
     
         3 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating block is made of a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         4 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating block comprises an arrangement groove, wherein the arrangement groove is formed to be drawn inward on one surface, the heater is inserted into the arrangement groove, and the heat insulating block is coupled to the heating block so to cover the arrangement groove. 
     
     
         5 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating space is formed through opposing surfaces that are each drawn inward to have a shape corresponding to the circumferential surface of the container on surfaces facing each other in the first heating block and the second heating block. 
     
     
         6 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the opposing surfaces are formed to surround a side portion and lower portion of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating block comprises a through-hole, wherein the through-hole is formed to penetrate such that an end of the support pin can pass toward the heating space. 
     
     
         8 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the thawing part further comprises an auxiliary heat insulating block, wherein the auxiliary heat insulating block covers an upper surface of the heating block. 
     
     
         9 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the thawing part comprises a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is installed on the heating block to measure the temperature of the heating block. 
     
     
         10 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the cell thawing machine further comprises a sensor insertion hole, wherein the sensor insertion hole is formed to be drawn at a certain depth from an upper surface of the heating block to a lower portion such that a calibration sensor for measuring the temperature of the heating block can be inserted therein, and
 wherein the sensor insertion hole is formed to be located directly above the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving part comprises a motor for providing a driving force, a rotating member, wherein the rotating member is axially coupled to a rotating shaft of the motor, a moving member, wherein the moving member is raised and lowered along the rotating member when the rotating member rotates, the support pins are coupled to the moving member such that the support pins can support a lower portion of the container by moving up and down along with the moving member, and a power transmission member for interconnecting the moving member and the thawing part such that the first heating block and the second heating block can be moved linearly in the left and right directions, respectively, through a driving force of the motor. 
     
     
         12 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the power transmission member comprises a guide block, wherein the guide block is fixedly coupled to the heat insulating block, a guide rail for guiding the linear movement of the guide block, and a link member for linking the guide block and the moving member to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell thawing machine further comprises a sensor for detecting the state of the container disposed in the heating space. 
     
     
         14 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell thawing machine further comprises a limit switch for detecting the position of the heating block through contact with the heat insulating block. 
     
     
         15 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell thawing machine further comprises a non-contact position detection sensor for detecting the position of the heating block. 
     
     
         16 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell thawing machine comprises a housing having an inlet, wherein the inlet is formed through a position corresponding to the heating space. 
     
     
         17 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the cell thawing machine further comprises a sensor insertion hole, wherein the sensor insertion hole is formed to be drawn at a certain depth from an upper surface of the heating block to a lower portion such that a calibration sensor for measuring the temperature of the heating block can be inserted therein,
 wherein the housing comprises a box-shaped main body and an upper cover, wherein the upper cover is detachably coupled to the main body so as to cover an upper portion of the main body,   wherein the inlet is formed on the upper cover to be located at a position corresponding to the heating space, and   wherein the sensor insertion hole is exposed to the outside when the upper cover and the main body are separated.   
     
     
         18 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein when heating the container accommodated in the heating space, the control part controls the driving of the driving part to heat the container in a state where the first heating block and the second heating block are not in contact with each other. 
     
     
         19 . The cell thawing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the control part individually controls the temperatures of the first heating block and the second heating block. 
     
     
         20 . A method for operating a cell thawing machine comprising heating blocks, wherein the heating blocks comprise a first heating block and a second heating block for forming a heating space for accommodating a container in which a predetermined amount of biological material comprising cells is stored through linear movement by a driving force of a motor, and heating the container accommodated in the heating space through heat provided from a heater; and support pins are raised and lowered to support a lower portion of the container disposed in the heating space in connection with the linear movement of the heating block, the method comprising:
 a first step of preheating the first heating block and the second heating block to a predetermined temperature by driving the heater while one surface of the first heating block and one surface of the second heating block facing each other are in contact with each other;   a second step of heating the container disposed in the heating space to thaw the biological material while the first heating block and the second heating block are changed to a heating position forming the heating space; and   a third step of changing the first heating block and the second heating block to a standby position by moving the same in a direction away from the heating position such that the container disposed in the heating space can be removed,   
       wherein in the second step, the container disposed in the heating space is heated by heat transferred from the first heating block and the second heating block in a non-contact manner in a state where a lower portion of the container is supported through the support pins and the container is not in contact with the first heating block and the second heating block.